Digital health tracking in post myocardial infarction patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cardiotracker – The impact of online digital health tracking in addition to cardiac rehabilitation on outcomes post myocardial infarction (heart attack).
IRAS ID
170421
Contact name
Thomas Keeble
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
Current guidelines recommend cardiac rehabilitation to all patients post myocardial infarction (MI). Studies have shown that cardiac rehabilitation is effective in reducing overall plus cardiovascular mortality, improving quality of life and functional capacity. However patient participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs is low in the UK. Only 28% of patients post coronary stenting procedures (PCI) and 46% of patients post MI engage in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Thus there is a need to improve patient activation and health behaviours in this cohort of patients.
Patient activation is described as ‘an individual’s knowledge, skill, and confidence for managing their health and health care’. Studies have shown that those patients that are more activated have better clinical outcomes and lower rates of hospitalisation. Indeed in patients with cardiovascular disease high patient activation is associated with better self management behaviours, medical adherence, quality of life and patient satisfaction however up to 40 percent of patients have low levels of activation.
Pow Health (www.powhealth.com) is a patient-powered service offering online digital health tracking and facilitates patients to manage their own health care needs via setting goals and tracking their vital signs.
Thus the objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of adding an online health tracker (www.powhealth.com) in the recovery of patients who have suffered a MI undergoing cardiac rehabilitation against standard cardiac rehabilitation care only.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EE/0040
Date of REC Opinion
22 May 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion